July 19, 2016

Black Unemployment Matters

Earlier this month, I discussed the tensions and confrontations between blacks and white police officers as a consequence of the utter breakdown in the black family structure.

I doubt anyone has had the guts to research this in our uber-PC world, but it's probably a safe bet that a huge majority of blacks who have complained of ugly encounters with, or been shot by, white police officers are individuals who were raised by single mothers. In many cases, these black individuals, despite often being young, already have lengthy track records of criminal behavior.

Too often, these individuals have not been taught about boundaries and respectful behavior. No father in the picture means a young boy does not have the disciplinarian, mentor, breadwinner and role model he sorely needs. If a young person has not been held accountable all his life, why would he have respect for a police officer or the rule of law?

Granted, there are some bad cops out there. As I acknowledged in this post, blacks have some legitimate complaints about rogue officers and discrimination. A U.S. Department of Justice investigation did indeed find that racist emails were sent by members the Ferguson, Mo., police department, resulting in several terminations. Law enforcement does need to root out the bad apples. With that being said, there is NO JUSTIFICATION for harming law enforcement officials, and those who do so must be severely punished.

But I think we're missing a key factor here: The miserable Obama economy, which includes shamefully high unemployment rates among young blacks, terrible decay in inner cities, and a hopelessness born of a lack of opportunity also contribute to tensions between blacks and police.

Think about it: The unemployment rate for black teens is a staggering 31 percent. (And that probably understates actual unemployment.) Young black people, even if their family circumstances were dire and their upbringing horrible, would be less likely to break the law and have friction interacting with police officers if they were working even part-time. Employment keeps a person busy, with less time and energy to engage in destructive activities and associate with unsavory characters. A job gives a person a sense of purpose, and hope for better things. It helps the worker meet and associate with other people who have a work ethic and a tendency to play by the rules.

Lest anyone think this staunch conservative is getting squishy, I say "NONSENSE." I still believe a person has the best chance to succeed in life if his or her parents A) Got married before having children; B) Worked rather than received welfare; C) Set a good example for their offspring, including obeying the law; and D) Found a way to send their progeny to quality schools.

Alas, these factors are often missing in the lives of young blacks who get sucked into the vortex of drugs/drinking/teen pregnancy/gangs and confrontations with police. And once one has a criminal record, it becomes even harder to find work...IF that work was even available in the inner city, which it often is not.

For blacks who have been accustomed to automatically voting Democrat election after election, it would be wise to consider how a candidate (Donald Trump) who understands the private sector and has a proven record for creating jobs could benefit their communities, their families and neighborhoods. This is far more than a fiscal or economic issue. It's a matter of human dignity and the importance of making life more meaningful for those who already have the deck stacked against them.